Coach must make up his mind on the No1 No10

If it were a fairy tale it could not have been more fanciful.

A player ignored for most of the season produces the telling contribution to win the biggest prize of the year.

In this parable, Demetri Catrakilis, not required by the Stormers for Super Rugby and already destined for another franchise, kicks only the second left-footed drop goal of his life, but it is the addition of these three points to Western Province's score that won them the Currie Cup.

It happened. Just a week ago, and the man in question says it is still surreal.

"It was the most amazing feeling ever, but I do find myself wondering whether it really happened," Catrakilis told me as he struggled to get his studs back on terra firma after the greatest moment in the 23 years of his life.

WP's slightly built flyhalf had contributed 17 of his side's points in their 25-18 victory over the Sharks, but it was his second drop goal, as he stepped inside a lunging Patrick Lambie and switched the ball to his wrong foot, the left, which arguably put the match, gamely as they tried, out of the Sharks' reach.

The former St John's schoolboy, who played for the Lions' under-19 Academy side at Craven Week for two years running but failed to be drawn into his province's contracted pool, revealed it was only the second scoring left-footed drop he had landed. "While practising I often try a few with the left, but that's only the second one that's counted - the other was in a club game," he revealed.

After school, Catrakilis was offered a stint with Racing Metro in Paris (Frans Steyn's French club) but the Gallic connection proved more of an adventure than a career move. However, he did get to have a few chats - "no more than that" - with former All Black Andrew Mehrtens who was there at the time.

He was persuaded to return to South Africa to play for False Bay in Western Province (he rates the Bay's coach Kevin Musikanth, along with his father George and Swys Joubert at St John's, as key influences in his career) and that's where he was spotted by UCT, talked into enrolling with the Ikeys, helping them to victory in the Varsity Cup and gaining his passport to Currie Cup rugby.

The crucial role Catrakilis played in the Currie Cup final is particularly germane now for it proves again that a flyhalf is the kingpin of a rugby team, as Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer considers who will get the green-and-gold No10 jersey.

Catrakilis is the latest to produce a command performance on the biggest day in domestic rugby. Think of Elton Jantjies last year, Patrick Lambie in 2010, Derick Hougaard in 2002, Michael du Plessis helping Western Province to breach a gap of 16 years in 1982, Joel Stransky in 1999 and Naas Botha so many times - the flyhalf is the conductor of orchestra.

And he is the one Meyer is looking for as he searches for the perfect harmony that has been missing in the Boks.

There are some other parts of the ensemble missing but Meyer, whose task has not been helped by SA Rugby failing to organise some midweek matches, has conceded he is searching for the perfect 10 by including three flyhalves in his squad for just three tests.

This indicates that one of Lambie, Morne Steyn or Jantjies is going to be left in the wings (while the injured Johan Goosen sits out) as the coach deliberates his dilemma.

Meyer took a long time to pick Steyn ahead of Derick Hougaard at the Bulls, but a lack of success in his first nine tests (four wins, three defeats, two draws) means he no longer has the luxury of time.

At the very least, the Boks should return from this tour with Meyer having a clear picture of who his No1 No10 is.